presidential elections and all the serious and fun moments on the campaign trail. so what are the top political events of 2012? jim acosta counts them down. >> make room. make room. >> reporter: the year started off with a surprise in a sweater vest. counting down the top campaign stories of the year at number ten, the primaries. rick santorum's stunning performance in the iowa caucuses. >> game on. >> reporter: kicked off a battle for the republican nomination that few in washington had expected. the gop's odds-on favorite, mom, stumbled in some of the early contests. >> i like being able to fire people who provide services to me. >> reporter: he refused to release his tax returns, allowing newt gingrich to take south carolina. >> we proved here in south carolina we beat big money. >> reporter: but that big money eventually cleared the field and romney set his sights on the president. >> it's still about the economy. and we're not stupid. >> reporter: at number nine, bang. >> your punishment must be more severe. >> reporter: not that one, that one. almost as soon